As one of Four Great Ancient Civilized Nations along with the Egypt, Sumeria, and the Indus Valley, China is endowed with a history of more than 5,000 years. The famous Yellow and Yangtze Rivers are the place where scholars believe the Chinese nation originated.
Legend says that it was the earliest ancestor Pangu who created the universe and Chinese nation after that. Actually, recorded Chinese history goes back about 4000 years, beginning with the Shang Dynasty.
The long history of China could be generally divided into ancient, imperial, and modern times.
Xia Dynasty (2070 – 1600 BCE)
Xia is the first ancient dynasty in Chinese history, which has s history of of 500 years, dating from roughly 2,100 to 1,600 BCE. It was during the Xia dynasty period that the first calendar system was created.
Shang Dynasty (1600 – 1029 BCE)
It was during the Shang dynasty that the first Chinese character oracle was created, which is written on the bones of animals. From then on, the recorded Chinese history begins.
Zhou Dynasty (1,100 – 256 BCE)
The Zhou dynasty lasted about 850 years. During the Zhou period, bronze ware was produced, which required sophisticated techniques to shape.
Spring and Autumn Period
The Spring and Autumn Period, also known as the Warring States Period, is the time when the petty chiefdoms of China fought among each other in the absence of a central authority. Confucius (Kong Qui) lived and taught during this era.
Qin Dynasty (221 – 206 BCE)
In the year 221 BCE, Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor in Chinese history, united China and under the Qin Dynasty. It was during the Qin dynasty that the world-famous Great Wall was begun and the impressive Terracotta Warriors were created.
Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE)
Founded by Liu bei, the Han Dynasty brought economic prosperity and scientific achievement to China, including the invention of the paper-making process, raised-relief maps, and the inverted pendulum used to measure earthquakes.
Three Kingdoms Period (220 -280 CE)
Three Kingdoms Period, known as warring period, is the period when the three kingdom of Wei, Shu and Wu established its state respectively and warred with each other to enlarge its territory.
Sui Dynasty (581 A.D. – 618 A.D.)
In Sui dynasty, China was reunited and the economy was recovered.
Tang Dynasty (618 A.D. – 907 A.D.)
Tang Dynasty is the most prosperous period in Chinese history, which enjoys the most advance technology. So the history of this period has a significant influence to the modern China. It was in Tang Dynasty that Buddhism became the predominant religion adopted by the imperial family and civilians. It was in Tang dynasty that the glorious Siik Road commercial route was created.
Song Dynasty (960 A.D. – 1279 A.D.)
Song dynasty could be divided into two periods, Northern Song Dynasty (960- 1127) and Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). Song Dynasty was founded in 960 by Zhao Kuangyin and established its capital in Kaifeng (originally called Bianjing). During Song dynasty, the technology and science were all highly developed, and some technologies were discovered thousands of years earlier than that of other countries in the world.
Yuan Dynasty (1279 A.D. – 1368 A.D.)
Yuan Dynasty was found by a Mongolian named Genghis Khan, who reunited China again. During his supreme period, the economy was flourished.
Ming Dynasty (1368 A.D. – 1644 A.D.)
Founded by Zhu Yuanzhang, Ming Dynasty enjoys a history of 276 years, from 1368 A.D. to 1644 A.D.
Qing Dynasty (1644 A.D. – 1911 A.D.)
Qing is the last Chinese dynasty in history, which marks the beginning of modern China. From that on, the modern Chinese history begins. Established by the Manchu People, the Qing Dynasty has a history of 268 years, from 1644 A.D. – 1911 A.D.
Republic of China (1911 A.D. – 1949 A.D.)
In the year of 1911, Dr Sun Yat-sen led Xinhai Revolution and overthrew the last feudal dynasty in Chinese history and established the Republic of China, which marks one the greatest events in the modern history of China.
People’s Republic of China
In 1949, Mao Zedong founded the People’s Republic of China. From that on, another nation is thriving in aspects of economy, politics, culture and the likes. China has become one of the most powerful countries in the world.